Chimney-cleaning device



Oct. 23, 1928. 1,688,638

CHIMNEY CLEANING DEVICE Filed Aug. 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Mal/e1 8V6 A'ITOR N EY Oct. 23, 1928. v 1,688,638

w. Koss CHIMNEY CLEANING DEVICE Filed Aug. 5, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY Patented Get. 23, 1928.

iilii XVALTER KOSS, OF ELYRIA, OHIO.

CHIMNEY-CLEANING DEVICE.

Application filed August 5, 1927. Serial No. 210,922.

This invention relates to a chimney cleaning device, the general object of the invention being to provide a brush carrying memher which is movably supported in the flue of the chimney and which is adapted to remain permanently therein, with means for moving the said member back and forth in the flue when the chimney is to be cleaned.

Another object of the invention is to provide closures for the fine to prevent the soot and dust from escaping therefrom when the chimney is being cleaned, with means for catching the soot in a pan so that it can be removed from the bottom of the chimney after the cleaningoperation has been completed.

A still further object of the invention is to so form the top closures that they will assume a closed position under the action of gravity, with means for holding the closures in open position when the cleaning device is not being used.

This invention also consists in certain other features of construction and in the combination and arrangement of the several parts, to be hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings and specifically pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing my invention in detail, reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is an elevation of a chimney having my invention arranged therein.

Figure 2' is a section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Figure 2, with the cleaning device in inoperative position.

Figure A is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the cleaning device in partly lowered position and the upper closures in lowered position.

Figure 5 is an end view of the cleaning device.

In these views, 1 indicates the chimney which is provided with a cap 2 having an upwardly tapered opening 3 therein through which the smoke from the flue of the chimney passes, and i indicates a plate placed between the top of the-chimney and the cap and having an opening 5 therein which is adapted to be closed by the two doors 6 which are hinged to the plate.

When in open position, the doors will engage the inclined sides of the opening 3 in the cap so that they will tend to move to closed position under the action of gravity.

A member 7 formed of concrete or the like is placed in the lower part of the chimney and has a downwardly tapering opening 8 therein and a plate 9 is transversely ar-' ranged in a slot formed in the front of the chimney, the plate being adapted to be' pushed under the member 7 to close the bottom'of the opening therein. This plate has its front end projected from the front'face of the chimney, where it is provided with an opening 10. Casings 11 and 11 are arranged in the chimney at opposite sides thereof and a horizontally arranged shaft 1 2 has its ends journaled in the casings below the plate 9. A stub shaft 13 is j ournaled' in the lower part of one of the casings and the two shafts are geared together by the gears 14. A handle 15 is fastened to the shaft 13 so that by turning this shaft 13, the shaft 12 will also be turned.

A brush carrying member 16 of rectangular shape is arranged in the flue of the chimney and is connected by the cables 19, which pass upwardly over the pulleys 21 and then down through the casings 11, with the weights 18 which are arranged one in each casing, the weights tending to hold the brush. carrying member at the top of the line, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Projections 19 are formed on the end portions of the brush carrying member and are arranged to engage the doors 6 to hold them in open position, when the brush carrying member is in raised position, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. Cables 20 are connected with the weights 18 and pass upwardly through the casings 11 and over pulleys 21 at the upper ends of the casings and then the cables pass downwardly through the casings and are connected with the drums 22 on the shaft 12 so that when the shaft is rotated in one di rection, the cables 20 will be wound upon the drums and thus the weights 18 will be raised and as the weights move upwardly, the brush carrying member will move downwardly under the action of gravity. After the brush carrying member reaches its lowest position, the handle can be released so that the weights will drop and thus raise the brush carrying member again.

A pan 23 is placed at the bottom of the flue to catch the soot dropping through the Ill) opening 8 and this pan can be removed through the door 24. The casings are provided with removable portions so that access can be had to the weights and to the drums so that the cables can be easily repaired or renewed if they should break.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the brush member is normally held at the top of the flue, with the projections 19 holding the doors 6 open and as the brush member is of hollow construction, the chimney will have the proper draft as the products of combustion can pass through the brush memher and through the opening left by the open doors. When the chimney is to be cleaned, the slide or plate 9 is shoved inwardly to close the opening 8 and then the handle 15 is turned to cause the cables on the drums to raise the weights which will. cause the brush member to move downwardly, and as soon as the member moves a certain distance the doors 6 will be closed. As the memher moves down, its brushes will engage the walls of the flue and thus scrape therefrom any accumulation of soot thereon which will drop into the opening 8 and be held therein by the plate 9. Then as the handle is released or turned in an opposite direction, the weights will be lowered and thus the brush member will be raised again so that its brushes will again brush the walls of the flue. If desired, the brush member can be moved back and forth a number of times to insure a proper clean- 3.) ing of the flue. As will be seen, during the cleaning operation the flue is closed at both its upper and lower end so that soot and dust cannot escape from the flue. After the cleaning operation, the slide 9 is moved 4o outwardly so that the accumulation of soot thereon will drop into the pan 23 and then the pan can be removed through the door 24. I prefer to place the brushes 16 on strips 16 which are detachably connected with the 4-3 brush carrying member so that the brushes can be substituted by new ones whenever they become worn.

It is thought from the foregoing description that the advantages and novel features of my invention will be readily apparent.

I desire it to be understood that I may make changes in the construction and in the combination and arrangement of, the several parts, provided that such changes fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is 1. In combination with a chimney having downwardly closing doors at the upper end of its flue, said doors closing under the action of gravity, a slide for closing the bottom of the flue, a hollow brush carrying member slidably mounted in the flue, guideways at the sides of the flue, weights in the guideways, cables connecting the weights to the brush carrying member, means on the brush carrying member for holding the doors in open position when the member is in raised position and manually operated means for raising the weights to permit the brush carrying member to move downwardly. V

2. In combination with a chimney having downwardly closingdoors at the upper end of its flue, said doors closing under the action of gravity, a slide for closing the bottom of the flue, a hollow brush carrying member slidably mounted in the flue, guideways at the sides of the flue, weights in the guideways, cables connecting the weights to the brush carrying member, means on the brush carrying member for holding the doors in open position when the member is in raised position, manually operated 11163118 for raising the weights to permit the brush carrying member to move downwardly, such means comprising a shaft, drums thereon, cables connected with the drums and with the weights, pulleys for the cables and a handle for rotating the shaft.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature;

WALTER nose. 

